Bob Hille

Published on Mar. 10, 2011

Mar. 10, 2011

The NCAA on Thursday responded to Baylor’s criticism about the timing of the organization’s ruling Perry Jones III’s ineligible by saying, in a statement on its website, that the university was “off base, related to timing, process and precedent.”

In particular, Baylor denounced the timing of the NCAA’s decision regarding the school’s request for reinstatement of Jones’ eligibility. The NCAA notified Baylor that Jones was ineligible on the day the Big 12 Tournament started in Kansas City. The university also claimed the decision was inconsistent with other recent eligibility reinstatement decisions.

“In fact, on multiple occasions starting in January, the NCAA notified Baylor University of potential eligibility issues with the student-athlete,” the NCAA’s statement said, under the headline For the record: Baylor University reinstatement decision. “It wasn’t until Monday that Baylor declared Mr. Jones ineligible and sought reinstatement from the NCAA.”

According to the NCAA, after immediately reviewing the request and also having to seek additional information, the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff received the final information it requested Tuesday evening and issued its decision Wednesday morning.

As for inconsistencies, specifically to how the NCAA ruled in the case regarding former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, the NCAA responded: “Each situation is different and has a different set of facts. In this specific case, the student-athlete and his family actually received benefits, including a trip, with the total benefit amount of more than $4,100. This sets the case apart from the Newton case, where there was no sufficient evidence of benefits being provided or direct involvement by the student-athlete.”

The NCAA says Jones’ mother received three 15-day loans from his AAU coach while Jones was in high school, a violation of the NCAA’s rules on amateurism and preferential treatment for athletes.

After the ruling, the Bears’ hopes for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament all but ended later Wednesday with a loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Tournament.